Clothespin



Nov. 20, 1928.

1,692,076 J. 0. CARROLL IOTHESPIN Filed Feb. 7, 1928 l.[:l. Carr [:11].

Patented Nov. 20, 1928.

la STATES.

JAMES 0. CARROLL, OF PITTSFIELD, ILEINOIS; ASSIGNOR 0F TO CHARLES P. CARROLL, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

CLOTHESPIN.

Application filed February 7, 1928 Serial No. 252,61 l- This invention relates to a clothes pin and one object the invention is to provide a pin of this eharacter which suspended trons a clothes line'and have firm grrppmg engagement with clothes to be suspended.

Another object otthe invention is to, provide the pin with clothes-engaging jawsv and a cooperating" tongue pivotally mounted between the jaws and adapted to be grasped by the operator and earily swung into and out of position to wedge portions of the clothes between the j aws..

Another object of the invention is topro;- vide the pin with line-engaging prongs or fingers disposed in such relation. to the clothescngaging aws and tongue that the clothes pin 'may be SHSPGDdQQtflOHI a clothes line with the line disposed between the jaws and fingersand constituting means to the upper end of the tongue and prevent the tongue from accidentall'ymovi-ng out of wedgi-ng engagement with clothesgripped between the tongue and jaws... 7

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a clothes pin which will be at a simpleconstruction and very efiicient in its opera tion.

panying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a view/showing the clothes pin in rear elevation; I

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the improved clothes pin;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the clothes pin, and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 4% of Fig. 3.

The improved clothes pin is preferably formed of wood, although any suitable material may be employed, and is formed with a solid head 1 from which extend depending arms or jaws 2 spaced from each other trans versely of the head. These jaws are preterably rectangular in cross section, as shown in Fig. 4, so that they are provided with fiat innor side faces. A movable jaw or tongue 3 is disposed between the jaws 2 and is pivotally mounted by a pin l passed transversely through the jaws and tongue. It should be noted that the upper end of the tongue terminates in spaced relation to the head 1, as 7 shown in Fig. 3, and that the tongue is of such length that its lower end portion projects downwardly thereby providing an eX- tended free end portion which may be easily The invention is illustrated in the accomgrasped when it is desired to swing the tongue into orout ofa position to secure the pin in;- cngagement with clothes to be suspended from a clothes line. By referring to t, it will be readilyseen that, when the pinis in usc*,a portion of the clothes 5: is disposed: be-

tween the tongue and the jaws 2 with tho-- pin is in. use.

The upper end portions of the. side arms are extended rearwardly and these rearward ly extended portions are slit longitudinal-1y, assho-wn in Figs. .2 and 3, to provide depending fingersor jaws 7 spaced rearwardly from the jaws 2 Bythis arrangement the pin may be suspended upon a clothes,

line8 disposed between the fingers 7 and jaws 2. In view of the tact-that the lower end p013 tions of the fingers diverge from the jaws, a clothes line may be easily forced into place between the fingers and jaws and firmly gripped thereby so that the pin will be retained in engagement with the clothes line and prevented from accidentally slipping off the clothes line. It should be noted that the upper ends of the fingers terminate in spaced relation to the upper end of the tongue but slightly above the pivot pin 4. This is clearly shown .in Fig. 3, and by referring to this figure it will be seen that, when a clothes line is disposed in the upper end portion of the slit between the fingers and jaws, it will bear against the upper end portion of the tongue 3 and, therefore, the tongue will be braced against movement towards a releasing position. Therefore, the tongue cannot be worked loose by strong wind acting against clothes engaged by the pin.

When the clothes pin is in use, a portion of a sheet or garment to be suspended from a clothes line is engaged between the tongue and jaws, as shown in Fig. 4, and the lower end portions of the fingers 7 are then engaged over a clothes line which is forced into its proper position between the upper ends of the fingers and jaws. By this arrangement the clothes will be firmly gripped and the clothes pin will have gripping engagement with the clothes line. It will thus be seen that there will be no danger of the clothes pin becoming released from either the line or the clothes. After the clothes have dried, the clothes pin can be detached from the clothes line andthe tongue grasped by its lower end portion and swung to a releasing position.

Having thus described the invention, I claim: v

1. A clothes pin comprising a head, jaws depending from said head and spaced from each other transversely of the head, the upper portions of said jaws being of increased depth and having their rear portions slit longitudinally to provide prongs constituting rear jaws and together with the first jaws adapted to straddle a clothes line and grip the same, a tongue extending longitudinally between the first jaws with its lower end portion projecting below the same, and a pivot pin passed through the first jaws and upper end portion of the tongue, the upper end of the tongue terminating above the plane of the upper ends of the rear jaws and the intermediate portion of the tongue being reduced in width to provide clearance between the first jaws and intermediate portion of the tongue.

2. A clothes pin comprising a head, jaws depending from said head and spaced from each other transversely of the head, prongs K carried by said jaws and depending from the upper portions thereof with their inner side faces spaced rearwardly from the jaws and together with the jaws adapted to straddle a 7 clothes line and suspend the clothes pin thereon, and a tongue pivotally mounted between the jaws with its lower end portion projecting below the jaws whereby the tongue may be grasped and swung into and out of position to clamp clothes between the tongue and jaws.

3. A clothes pin comprising a body having a solid head and depending arms spaced from each other transversely of the head,

arms spaced rearwardly from the first arms and together therewith forming front and rear jaws to straddle and grip a clothes line,

of the rear jaws and its lower end portion projecting downwardly from the lower ends of the front jaws to provide a port-ion adapted to be grasped when moving the tongue into and out of an operative position between the front jaws.

4. A clothes pin comprising a body having a solid head and depending arms spaced from each other transversely of the head, prongs spaced from the upper portions of said arms and together with the arms adapted to. grip a clothes line and suspend the clothes pin from the clothes line, and a tongue pivotally mounted between the arms and when disposed longitudinally between the arms adapted to clamp clothes between the arms and tongue.

In testimony whereof'I afiix my signature;

JAMES o. CARROLL.- L. s] 

